Mike left for the MTC on March 4, 2009. He got to his mission on March 24. I know it is a bit late to be starting a blog, but I thought there might be some of you who would like to know how Mike is doing on his mission. For those of you: Enjoy!

Elder Nelson with Pres & Sis Darrington

Just after Mike got to Florida

Thursday, January 21, 2010

18 January 2010

18 January 2010Dear Family,Well I was hoping that Kim would be able to come home this past week, but not yet I guess. She was so lucky she was out of it for the kidney stone. Elder Barney, my last companion, had one due to his large consumption of Mountain Dew and he told me it was the most pain he has ever been in his whole life. And he has experienced many different kinds of pain- he has broken many bones and also had a kidney removed. He would take the broken bones over the stone any time.Have they said when she will be able to come home? When will they start her next Chemo round? This will be her last one -thank goodness. I'm so very thankful that she has been able to make through this, she is so incredibly strong and Iron willed.So I'm in my new area, called New Smyrna Beach. My new address is:

958 Village TrailApt #304Port Orange, FL 32127

This is an interesting area, it will take a while to get used to. Brother Holmquist took me to meet Elder Peterson, my companion, in Melbourn- then we drove back North to the area which is in the Deland Stake and Zone. The apt is actuality the biggest one I have had so far, but it is still a two man. This is my 3rd area and I still haven't had the chance to experience a 4 man.This area was a mess when I got here. It seemed that the Elders in the past thought they were on a vacation. And the apt itself was trashed. One of the first things I did in this area was go on a cleaning rampage. It was disgusting- garbage everywhere, but now it’s nice and clean. The dish washer was busted, too, so I spent a while fixing that till it was up and running again.To answer your question about our pool of ‘gaters… when I left my last area I left it in much better shape than I found, with lot of people for the Elders to work with. Looks like I will have to do the same here. There are two ‘gaters in this area. I met the first one a few days ago and the first thing done was giving her a baptismal date for the 30th of January- but it needs to be pushed back till the 6th of February because of stake conference. The other has a smoking addition that we need to help him get over.Elder Peterson is from San Diego and loves video games. He has also read some of the books I have gone through so it makes for good conversation.The Daytona 500 is coming up in a few weeks, and I am right next to the speedway so I might get to see some of that or at least hear it.I hope Kim comes home soon so you can have Christmas, it will be one to remember that's for sure. I wish I could be there, too. And I could be: all you have to do is get a large cardboard cut-out of me, with added bulging muscles of course, then I won’t ever leave!I love you all so much more and more every day, and am so thankful to my Heavenly Father for all the progress Kim has made.